Aug 17 Live lives

Selfridges proves live music spaces to support performance spaces in the UK

As live music venues continue to disappear from the UK entertainment scene – London has lost 40% in the last 10 years –Selfridges is providing performance spaces in the capital, Manchester, and Birmingham. The retailer’s Music Matters campaign is out to ‘celebrate and honour’ the power of live music.

The Oxford Street store’s UltraLounge events space has been turned into a 150-capacity venue until October, hosting musicians, DJs, and visual artists every Thursday. And the retailer is donating a portion of ticket revenues to the Music Venue Trust.

“We hope the campaign will remind visitors to our stores of the intrinsic value and originality of the music experience,” says Linda Hewson, Selfridges’ creative director. “It’s so important that we support our cities’ independent music venues where these unique and formative experiences take place.”